POSTED MARCH 25, 2011

Although we may not realize it, all of us are teachers in one sense of the word or another.  Whether it is lecturing in classrooms, preaching in churches, or offering guidance to our friends and family members, we all teach.  So how can we be effective in our teaching?  According to extensive research and analysis, author Ken Bain's answer is not knowledge, personality, or communication skills that ultimately make a teacher successful.  Rather, it is simply humility.  To be effective teachers - especially as Christians, we are not to lord our intelligence over those whom have willingly submitted themselves to our educational care.  Instead, we are to exercise humility after the model of Jesus Christ, who was, indeed, the greatest teacher that ever walked face of the earth.  In fact, Scripture instructs us to do this in all things: "Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men" (Phil. 2:5-7).  As teachers, then, we should not consider ourselves as completely learned, but rather as continual learners.  This mindset of being a "student among students" establishes our capability to guide others, but recognizes our legitimate limitations and encourages us to continue pursuing greater understanding for our sake as well as our students'.  This is the method of Jesus - using supremacy to serve rather than to be served.

For more, please read the article by Will Bankston: "The Key Trait of Successful Teachers."